Means and method for constructing buildings



Sept. 15, 1964 s. GAGE ETAL MEANS AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING BUILDINGS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 12, 1962 Sept. 15, 1964 s. GAGE ETAL MEANS AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING BUILDINGS Filed March 12, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 15, 1964 s. GAGE ETAL 3,148,434

MEANS AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING BUILDINGS Filed March 12, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 15, 1964 s. GAGE ETAL 3,148,434

MEANS AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING BUILDINGS Filed March 12, 1962 s Sheets-SheetA mm i L MEANS AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING BUILDINGS Filed March 12, 1962 Sept. 1 5, 1964 s. GAGE ETAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 15, 1964 s. GAGE ETAL 3,148,434

MEANS AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING BUILDINGS Filed March 12, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent 3,143,434 MEANS AND NETHGD FOR CQNrdTll-EUCTENG BUELBENGS Seymour Gage, Bronx, and Gaza: M. Martinson, Riverdale, N31 {both of 395 E. 53rd St., New York, NY.) Filed Mar. 12, 1962, er. No. 178,929 3 Claims. ((31. 25-1315) This invention relates generally to the field of building construction, and more particularly to an improved means and method for erecting relatively large internally supported concrete spans of the type employed in the construction of automobile parking buildings and similar structures.

in constructions of this type, it is essential that internally positioned vertically disposed supports be reduced to a minimum, the ideal situation being one in which the floors are supported only by the outer walls of the building. While it is known in the art to provide large forms for pouring such construction, the necessity of waiting until the large volumes of concrete poured thereupon have hardened sufiicient to become self-supporting has hindered the rapid construction of such buildings to an unreasonable degree. Further, such large forms have been difiicult to handle, and expensive to position and remove after completion of a given floor.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the presout invention to provide an improved means and method for constructing buildings of this type, in which there are provided a plurality of generally similar forms which may be interconnected at periodic intervals to be supported upon detachable shoring in such manner that individual sections of a floor may be poured and allowed to harden sufficiently to permit removal of that section of the form disposed immediately therebeneath, whereby the same may be transferred to be positioned to permit the pouring of another section of the same floor.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved means for transporting standardized forms from location to location upon a common floor, to facilitate the subsequent erection thereof.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved short positioning system, wherein the placement of individual shores in a previously erected floor provides guiding means for the subsequent positioning of shores supporting successive upper floors thereupon.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved system for erecting buildings, whereby substantial economies in expended labor and materials are effected.

A feature of the invention lies in the Wide adaptability of the means and system herein disclosed for use in conjunction with the erection of a variety of types of buildings, including those having level floors as well as those having spiral or otherwise contoured floors.

Another feature of the invention lies in the greater time utilization of individual concrete forms during the period of erection of a building, as contrasted with that obtainable from the use of conventional forming.

Another feature of the invention lies in the provision of concrete forms which are readily adaptable to provide for the shaping of warped segments of floors.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partially schematic in nature, showing the erection of a plurality of floors of a building structure in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of one of the slab and form assemblies comprising a part of the inventive means.

FEGURE 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan of a slab and form assembly, with certain structure removed for purposes of clarity.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view sho. ing one of the side members comprising the structure shown in FEGURE 2, as might be seen from the plane 44 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational view showing one of the shoring members comprising a part of the disclosed embodiment.

FTGURE 6 is a side elevational view showing one of the dolly elements used in supporting an individual slab and form assembly.

FZGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the supporting of a plurality of forms upon previously constructed floors.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from the pie. e 88 in FIGURE 3.

FEGURE 9 is a fragmentary plan view corresponding to the central portion of FIGURE 3, with removed structure present.

With reference to FIGURE 1 in the drawings, reference character it designates a partially constructed building made in accordance with the present invention, the same including a ground floor 11, a first fioor 1.2, a second door 13, and a partially erected third floor 14. The floors 12-1 are constructed as a plurality of horizontally disposed sections 15 abutted by vertically disposed reinforcing members 16 disposed in generally parallel planes. The reinforcing members 16, as well as the horizontal sections 15, include internally disposed steel bracing (not shown) as is well-known in the building art, which reinforce those portions of the fioors which are normally in tension. The design of the particular iloors will, of course, be varied with the requirements of the building 1%, in accordance with established engi neering procedures, and need not be further elaborated upon in this disclosure. Prior to complete hardening of the floors 12-14, the same are supported by removable shoring elements 1%, which support concrete form elements 19 (see (FIGURE 2). The form elements 19 are moved into position, and subsequently removed after hardening of the doors by portable dolly elements 20.

With reference to FIGURES 5 and 7, the removable shoring elements 3.3 are substantially similar, and, accordingly, a detailed description of one of such elements will serve to describe all. Each element 18 includes a base member 23, and, in the case of erecting the first floor above the ground floor, the member 23 may be detachably engaged within a platform portion 24 having a vertical socket 25 thereon. Integral with the base member 23 is a threaded sleeve member 26 having tool-engaging means 27 for elongating and contracting the length of the element 18. A nut 28 is formed integrally with the sleeve member 25, and is secured by a short bolt 29 to a hollow shaft 31. The shaft 31 mounts a form element supporting member 32, the same having a plurality of socket openings 33 therein engageable with means to be subsequently described on the form elements 19.

Disposed above the member 3?. is a shoulder 34, engageable with and supporting a short length of pipe 35, a flange 36 thereupon, and a second length of pipe 37 (see FIGURE 6), during the pouring and hardening of concrete segments of a floor, as will more fully appear.

Referring to FIGURE 2 in the drawings, the form elements 1? are also generally similar, each including a centrally disposed horizontal member 4%, and a pair of vertically disposed side members 41 and 42. Adjusting means 43 interconnects portions of the members 41 and 42 with the member 41 for predetermining and maintaining the mutual angular adjustment thereof.

The horizontal member 40 is generally rectangular in configuration, including a pair of longitudinal side beams 48 and 49, and a pair of transverse end beams 50 and 51, between which extend a plurality of intermediate beams 52 and 53. The beams 48-53, inclusive, support a top wall of plywood, hardboard or other suitable material upon which concrete may be poured.

Referring to FIGURE 8', the top wall is not of unitary construction, but consists of a plurality of transversely extending planks 54, each substantially similar and including first and second edge portions 55 and 56, respectively. As seen in FIGURE 8, the first edge portion 55 is bolted by lag screws 55a to an upper portion of an intermediate beam 52-53, the interconnection also serving to mount a bridging plate member 55b, which extends in a direction toward an adjacent second edge 56 of the next plank 54, slidably engaging the lower surface thereof. The second edge portion 56 of each plank 54 is free of direct contact with a beam 52-53, and has secured thereto by lag screws 57a a connector member 58 having a resilient tongue 59 slidably engaging the lower surface of the plate member 55b. As the width of the boards 54 is substantially less than the distance between adjacent beams 52-53, the interstice above the plate member 551) is filled with a flexible and compressible material such as sponge rubber During the relative movement of the beams 43-51 so that they no longer lie in a common plane (as when forming warped surfaces), compressive strains on the planks 54 are relieved by compression of the rubber 59c.

Extending outwardly of the member 4t) are a series of welded extensions 66 having a corresponding plurality of bores or openings 61 therein, supporting large nut means 62 upon which the side members 41 and 42 are supported. The nut means 62 is engaged with shoulder screws 63, preferably of a self-locking type.

The side members 41 and 42 are similar, and symmetrically arranged, and are best understood from a consideration of FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. Each is bounded by an upper longitudinal beam 66, a lower longitudinal beam 67, and vertically disposed end beams 63 and 69. Disposed parallel to the beams 68 and 69 are a plurality of vertically positioned intermediate beams 70, 71, 72 and 73. Adjustability of the longitudinal dimension of the members 41 and 42 is obtained by the use of splice plates 74, 75, 76, and 77, similar means (not shown) being provided for the horizontal member 40. In practice, the form elements 19, once fabricated, may be used for many individual construction jobs, and the size of the same may be varied by assembling the beam members thereof in conjunction with concrete surface-forming members 58, 59 and 78, of varying dimensions. As the splice plates for each of the side members 41 and 42, and the horizontal member 41 are of corresponding number and dimension, lengthening or shortening of the form elements 19 along a principal longitudinal axis requires only the insertion or removal of the desired number of splice plates.

The vertical end beams 68 and 69 each include laterally extending portions 79 and 8t} mounting a horizontal support member 81, in turn mounting a slidably supported locating pin 82 from which laterally extend a pair of roll pins 83. The members 82-83 are projectable through the openings 33, and communicating slots 84, and subsequently rotatable wherein the pins 83 may no longer be withdrawn.

Disposed beneath the pin 82 is a lug bracket 86 having a pin 87 engaging an eye bolt '88 in trunnion fashion. The eye bolt has engaged therewith a stop nut 89 and a retaining nut M) between which angularly disposed and lateral shoring 91 (see FIGURE 1) is engaged.

- to interconnect the side members 41-42 with the central horizontal member 41), and maintain a desired angular relation thereto. The means are substantially similar, each including an upper mounting bracket 93, a lower bracket 94, threaded shanks 95 and 96, and interconnecting turnbuckle means 97 having tool-engaging portions 98 thereon.

The dolly elements 219 (see FIGURE 6) may be of any suitable type, the construction illustrated being purely exemplary in nature. The elements 20 each include a base member 195 supported in normally horizontal condition upon legs 1-96 incorporating leveling means 107 and coaster wheels 1138 at the lower ends thereof. Preferably, the wheels 1493 include braking means 109 to prevent the same from rolling when on inclined surfaces. Radially disposed upper and lower beams 119 and 111, respectively, support a central outer column 112. Intermediate and inner columns 113 and 114 form raising and lowering means, the same being erected in well-known manner by winch means 115 which may be manually powered. The configuration of the platform 119 is such as to readily fit between the side members 41 and 42 of an individual element 19, and may include means (not shown) for locking the same onto the surface thereof, where desired. Use of the device will best be understood from a consideration of FIGURE 1. After completing the ground floor 11, or suitably reinforcing the ground upon which the building is to be erected, the shoring elements 18 are placed at suitable substantially equally spaced locations, following which the dolly elements 20 are moved into position between the shoring elements while carrying form elements 19, and are elevated and erected to engage the respective socket-forming members 34 using the locating pins 82, pipes 35 and 37, and flange 36, which are positioned as shown in FIGURE 6 in the drawings, being maintained in alignment by a threaded locking member 37'. Following this, the lateral shoring 91 is installed, and with the interconnection of a plurality of form elements 19, a support is formed for the pouring of the first floor. In this position the lower edges 121 (FIGURE 2) of the outwardly disposed surfaces of the members 41 and 42 interconnect to form seals, as do the upper edges thereof, with the members 59' and 78.

Concrete may be subsequently poured over individual form elements 19, after positioning the internal metallic reinforcing therefor. During such pouring, the pipes and flange 35-37 will be enclosed within the concrete, the upper end of the pipe 37 extending to the finished surface 124 of the poured concrete. After the concrete has been permitted to harden to a degree wherein the individual poured section, generally indicated by reference character 26, is self-supporting, the form element 19 immediately therebeneath may be removed, allowing the section to remain supported by the adjacent shoring elements 18, the load being transmitted to the individual shoring elements 18- through the flange 36 and pipe 35 with which the shoulder 34 is engaged. With such removal, the form element 19 may be moved to another location on the same floor or another floor, wherein the operation may be repeated.

After a much further lapse of time, the poured concrete has normally hardened wherein large individual areas of the floor are self-supponting, and the lower portions of the shoring elements 18 may then be disconnected, leaving the upper vertical portion 35 remaining embedded within the concrete. With the pouring of subsequent floors, the base member 23 may be installed in the opening in the upper end 37 of a previously used shoring element, which then serves as locating means. In those cases, as exemplified in FIGURE 1, in which the floors are in the form of a continuous spiral, the dolly elements may be wheeled around in continuous fashion without the necessity of resorting to lifting cranes, the previously formed floor serving to elevate the same as they move about the spirals.

It may thus be understood that we have invented novel and highly useful means and method for constructing stressed concrete floors wherein a relatively small number of forms may be employed in succession to construct individual sections of a floor, the forms being removable as the concrete supported thereby becomes sufficiently hard to support itself. Practically all of the available forms may be used simultaneously and continuously, with a minimum of idle time, whereby both material and labor savings are effected.

We wish it to be understood that we do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications Will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

We claim:

1. In a removable concrete form construction, including a plurality of form elements each having a generally rectangular centrally disposed member and first and second side members hingedly interconnected to said centrally disposed member at oppositely disposed side edges thereof to define a substantially continuous concrete contacting surface, the improvement comprising: each of said first and second side members having a lower edge thereon mutually abutted with the corresponding edges of an adjacently positioned form element, a plurality of longitudinally extendable shoring elements, each of said shoring elements having on an upper end thereof a form element supporting member, said form elements having thereon adjacent said lower edges thereof means selectively engageable with said form element supporting memher.

2. In a removable concrete form construction, including a plurality of form elements each having a generally rectangular centrally disposed member and first and second side members hingedly interconnected to said centrally disposed member at oppositely disposed side edges thereof to define a substantially continuous concrete contacting surface, the improvement comprising: each of said first and second side members having a lower edge thereon mutually abutted with the corresponding edges of an 'adjacently positioned form element, a plurality of longitudinally extendable shoring elements, each of said shoring elements having on an upper end thereof a form element supporting member, said form element supporting member having at least one socket opening therein, said form elements having thereon adjacent said lower edges thereof at least one slidably mounted pin selectively engageable within said socket opening.

3. In a removable concrete form construction, including a plurality of form elements each having a generally rectangular centrally disposed member and first and second side members hingedly interconnected to said centrally disposed member at oppositely disposed side edges thereof to define a substantially continuous concrete contacting surface, the improvement comprising: each of said first and second side members having a lower edge thereon mutually abutted with the corresponding edges of an adjacently positioned form element, a plurality of longitudinally extendable shoring elements, each of said shoring elements having on an upper end thereof a form element supporting member, said form elements having thereon adjacent said lower edges thereof means selectively engageable with said form element supporting memher; said shoring elements having a shoulder extending vertically above said form element supporting member thereon, flanged pipe means detachably engaged with said shoulder and extending above the concrete contacting surface of said form elements, whereby upon the pouring of concrete to cover said concrete contacting surfaces and the at least partial hardening thereof, said flange pipe may be enclosed therein to provide direct support to said concrete from said shoring elements in the absence of said form elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 853,955 Blaw May 21, 1907 930,308 Moody Aug. 3, 1909 1,383,161 Spa-lding June 28, 1921 1,417,614 McAbee May 30, 1922 1,779,735 Harm Oct. 28, 1930 2,213,159 Durley Aug. 27, 1940 2,215,972 Mueller et al Sept. 24, 1940 2,379,636 Hedgren July 3, 1945 2,557,693 Sachleben et a1. June 19, 1951 2,580,034 Lyons Dec. 25, 1951 2,595,123 Callan Apr. 29, 1952 2,694,846 Olsson et al Nov. 23, 1954 2,816,346 Martin Dec. 17, 1957 2,892,238 Budd June 30, 1959 2,902,745 DeBrigard et al. Sept. 8, 1959 3,047,931 Boettner Aug. 7, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,763 Great Britain Dec. 14, 1911 

1. IN A REMOVABLE CONCRETE FORM CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF FORM ELEMENTS EACH HAVING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR CENTRALLY DISPOSED MEMBER AND FIRST AND SECOND SIDE MEMBERS HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTED TO SAID CENTRALLY DISPOSED MEMBER AT OPPOSITELY DISPOSED SIDE EDGES THEREOF TO DEFINE SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS CONCRETE CONTACTING SURFACE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SIDE MEMBERS HAVING A LOWER EDGE THEREON MUTUALLY ABUTTED WITH THE CORRESPONDING EDGES OF AN ADJACENTLY POSITIONED FORM ELEMENT, A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDABLE SHORING ELEMENTS, EACH OF SAID SHORING ELEMENTS HAVING ON AN UPPER END THEREOF A FORM ELEMENT SUPPORTING MEMBER, SAID FORM ELEMENTS HAVING THEREON ADJACENT SAID LOWER EDGES THEREOF MEANS SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID FORM ELEMENT SUPPORTING MEMBER. 